Few months ago I did water pump. Wasn't leaking but bearing was shot.

https://landroverforums.com/forum/di...h-79028/page3/

Been watching coolant levels drop slowly and steadily for the the last few weeks. Found a small trickle/weeping from the top of the bit the water pump is fixed to. Front cover right? Can't see it coming from any where higher.

Can't get a decent enough photo.

Is there any way to double confirm the gasket? What am I getting myself into by swapping that? I'm fairly confident with the spanners (wrenches) but it's starting to get cold and I'm not interested in having an ongoing problem in the driveway, when I screw up the job.

Any advice, links to front cover walk throughs?

Will try to get a decent photo.

 

You will remove the fan and front pulleys in the driver side, then the driver side assembly. You'll have to take the power steering pump off the assembly and just let it stay. Oil pan off, then main pulley. You can put a block of wood in the crank to hold it while you remove the bolt from the main pulley. Then remove the front cover bolts and pull it off.

But before you do any of that be sure where it is coming from. If there is no coolant in the oil, the leak is either from the water pump gasket, the head gasket, or the heater hose (if it is on the passenger side), or the edges of the front cover.

The hardest part is the main pulley. That and leaning over the front of the car for extended periods.

 

The front cover meets the pump, of course, but it isn't above it. See pictures.





If the leak is above the water pump it is probably head gasjetgasket, heater line, thrbody body/hose temperature sensor, or the main return for coolant (big pipe in the middle).

 

Thanks for that Charlie.

Looking at the back of the cover you show, my leak is at the top large water way on your 2nd photo.

I managed to get a decent photo.



Interestingly, I ran the engine for a while for it to get hot, expecting it to get worse, and it has almost stopped.

I've wiped it clean and am letting it cool over night seeing if its linked to some kind of hot/cold expansion. If so, I would expect to see more evidence of leakage in the morning. If so, I might try simply torquing the bolts.

Linked to that, When I installed my water pump a few months ago, there is a chance I havn't torqued the bolts enough at that time, as I think some of them go right through the front cover, and actively hold both items?

 

The front cover gasket can have an external coolant leak near the coolant pump, where the passages are.

I recently replaced one that leaked there. I initially replaced the coolant pump gasket thinking that's what it was.

Remove the front accessories. Go to Advanced Auto Parts and rent a coolant system pressure tester. Its expensive, but 100% refundable if you return within 45 days.

Pump it up to 15 or 20 lbs and look for the leak. With everything removed, you should be able to find the source quickly.

 

It took me a little while to sort out and match up your photo with the two in Charlie's post, but I see now what you mean.

Seems to me it'd be worth your while to double-check the torque on that and the other water pump bolts, but remember the spec is only 18 lb.-ft. Unfortunately even if that was the cause it may be that it's now too late and the front cover gasket will need to be replaced regardless. But as I said re-torquing the water pump bolts would be worth a try. Good luck.

 

Ha. yes, I can see how that might be a bit cryptic looking. It was an odd angle to get a photo. I should have taken a wider one for context. I tried to find the relevant schematic type drawing to put a red arrow on, but couldn't see one.

Im waiting as it cools down tonight, to see if its a temp variant thing. I feel it might leak more when cold. Which gives me hope for a bolt-tighten. But I know what you mean, if its started to weep, stopping it will now be unlikely.

I didnt torque the bolts properly on the water pump, just knowing they wernt that high, gave them what i thought. If that turns out to be a mistake.......

Will update in the morning.

 

It would be a real coup if you just have a couple of loose bolts. Good luck with that. Otherwise, a new front cover gasket will probably do the trick.

 

Ok, its definitely a leak upon cooling/standing.

Managed to get a 1/8th turn on the two bolts in question, my fingers are crossed.

My worry is that the leak seemed to be from a very specific point on the join, so im thinking the coolant has found and enlarged a tiny channel.

Monitor for a week and let you know.

Thanks all.

 

Well, better late than never for an update.

Nipping the bolts seems to have stopped the leak.

Moral of the story, properly torque the water pump bolts.